Irrigator



atenteci Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE IRRIGATOR Application June 6, 1931, Serial No. 542,618

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in irrigators, and has for an object to provide an irrigator which is especially useful for treatments of colon disorders, such as colitis and 5 other large bowel disorders.

Another object of the invention is to provide a colon irrigator wherein hot and cold water may be quickly supplied to the receptacles for holding the iiuid containing chemicals or soap or glycerin or other materials that are used for the irrigation of the colon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an irrigator wherein the jars or containers for holding the liquids are filled from the bottom, so that there is not the danger of air becoming pocketed within the liquids or the piping therefor, which would probably be transferred to the patient.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an irrigator where the temperature of the Water may be readily and quickly adjusted, even while the patient is receiving the injection without in any way stopping the treatment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an irrigator wherein certain valves may be opened or closed to cause some of the liquid to be entrained to thus provide a vacuum or suction in the main feed pipe to remove gas and other material from the colon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an irrigator wherein the flow of the liquid to the patient is generally by gravity, but Wherein, if desired, additional pressure may be applied to thus overcome any back pressure or gas or solids in the colon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an irrigator wherein gravity pressure may be used and additional water pressure added or a suction may be set up to thus treat the diier- 40 ent conditions that may be found in the patient.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an irrigator wherein a Y-connection is used, which may be quickly and readily ilushed from the hot water line used in the irrigator or, on the` other hand, may be quickly removed with some of its rubber piping, if so desired, so that the parts may be quickly and readily sterilized to thus prevent any infection from the one patient being passed to the succeeding patient.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts, aswill be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

to one branch of the glass Y 13.

(Cl. 12S- 227) Referring now to the drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective of my new and improved irrigator and showing a fragmentary portion of an operating table;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the Y-connection used in the irrigator.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there will be seen two jars 1 for containing the liquids, which are open at their bottoms, and have therespective connecting pipes or tubes 2. These tubes, in turn, are each connected to the respective valves 3 and 4 which are, in turn, connected to the pipe 4.0 in which there is the T 41. To this T is piped the four-Way cross 42. This cross, in turn, is connected to the hot water supply, in which there is the valve 6, and to the cold water supply, in which there is the valve 7, while connected to the fourth branch of the connection l2 is the pipe 43 in which there may be seen the valve 5.

The jars 1 may or may not be duplicates of each other and two or more are provided, so that one may always act as a reserve supply.

To furnish these jars 1 with hot and cold water, it is only necessary to\ open either one of the valves 3 or e, depending on which jar is to be lled, close the valve 5 and open the valve 6, which will thusadrnit hot water to the jar and also open the valve 7, which Will admit cold Water to the same jar. f

These jars 1 are to be open at their tops, so that the soap or glycerin or chemicals may be dropped into the jars, which is to be done before the water is admitted to the jar, so that as the water flows up into the jar it will bubble, agitate and thoroughly mix the ingredients with the water.

Also, by feeding the water from the bottom of the jar, it will be seen that there is no danger of air being pocketed within the liquid or the pipes which would, of course, cause the pocketed air to .be transmitted to the patient when receiving the enema or irrigation.

Connected to the pipe i3 is preferably the main rubber tube 12 which, in turn, is connected This Y might also be made lout of baklite, aluminum or other suitable material. To the main stem of the Y may-be seen the hose or tube 14 to which will be connected the nozzle 14. This nozzle might be of hard or soft rubber or glass. In fact, any form of nozzle which is used for such irrigations may be employed.

To the remaining branch of the Y 13, I connect the small rubber hose 11 which leads to the valve 10, which valve, in turn, is piped to the T 10. This T 10', in turn, is a part of the waste pipe line 9, in which may be seen the valve 8 which, in turn, is connected by the T 8 to the hot and cold water supply lines.

To the bottom of the pan or sink 15 is connected a drain pipe 18, which, in turn, is connected to the drain pipe 17. A valve 16 is located in the horizontal run of the pipe 18.

Also, there may be seen a fragmentary portion of an operating table 19, which will be moved up adjacent to the irrigator, so that the reclining patient will be in close proximity to the irrigator.

In the present embodiment, I have shown a panel 22, which is to be fastened 'to the wall, and on this panel may be a bracket or rod 21, to which may be fastened the hails 20 that, in turn, support the respective jars 1.

Before setting out the description of how the irrigator is to be used, it might be mentioned that although I have shown a panel for supporting the irrigator which is to be secured to the wall, the irrigator might be made portable and fastened, we will say, to the operating table or to a stand, and long rubber pipes connected to proper hot and cold Water supplies and to the waste pipe.

Operation of the device Having set out the structure, a brief description follows of the preferred manners of using the irrigator.

Now, to prepare the apparatus for use, the chemicals or soap or other ingredients to be used, we will say, will be placed. within the jars 1. We are presupposing that all of the valves are closed.

The valve 3 Will then be opened and also the valves 6 and 7 slightly, so that the cold and hot water of the desired temperatures may flow through the valve 3 and into the left jar. The water being forced up from the bottom does not form any air pockets in the connections or in the jar, as might happen if the water should be poured into the top of the jar. The temperature of the water may be changed after it is filled by proper manipulation of the valves, draining some of the water out, and filling it with either hot or cold water, if found necessary.

After the left jar 1 has thus been filled, the valve 3 will be closed and the valve 4 opened and the chemicals having been poured into this other jar, hot and cold water may be forced up into the jar by opening the respective valves 6 and 7. The valves 6 and 7 may then be turned off and the valve 4 turned off and the jars are now filled with the proper temperatured solution to treat the patient.

The patient preferably lies on his left side on the table 19 and the nozzle 14 on the end of the hose 14 will be withdrawn from the pan 15 and inserted in the rectum.

Now, supposing it is desired to use the solution from the left-hand jar, the valve 3 will be opened and also the valve 5, which will allow the solution to flow through the pipe 12 and Y 13 and through the nozzle 14' until the desired amount has been given. The valve 5 will then be closed. This operation may be repeated, if found necessary.

Occasionally, the iiow of water is stopped by back pressure or gas in the colon or by mucus membrane, feces or other matter and, when this occurs, the obstruction can sometimes be removed by opening not only say the valve 3 and the valve 5 out also opening the valves 6 and 7 slightly, so that additional pressure from the pressure lines may be added, which will be greater than simply the gravity pressure from the Jar.

If this method is not found desirable, sometimes the pressure or obstruction can be removed or relieved by passing the gas back to drain through the Y 13 and the hose 1l to the drain 9. This can easily be accomplished by closing the valve 5 and opening the valves say 3 and 8, thus allowing the water to flow from the jar down into the drain 9, which will entrain the air in the branch 11 or, in other words, cause a suction. through the hose 11 and through the Y 13, thus pulling gas or other obstruction from the colon. After the obstruction has been removed, the gravity process of treating can be resumed.

It will thus be seen that the Y 13 is not as apt to become obstructed and contaminated as when old methods are used. Furthermore, the apparatus may be readily changed and sterilized, that is, the hose 14 will be pulled from the stem while the hose connections 11 and 12 may be pulled from the two branches of this Y, and the Y and tubes, if desired, then placed in the sterlizer. In this way, there is no possibility of any germs or bacteria being passed to the succeeding patient.

It will also be seen that should the patient need more than the solution in the one jar, it is but the matter of a moment to open either the valve 3 or the valve 4, whichever the case may be, to immediately feed the solution from the other jar, the treatment being in no way interrupted during the irrigation.

Furthermore, it is but the matter of a moment to add more hot or cold water to these jars, as by turning off the valve 5 the proper temperature can be quickly reached by operating the valves 6 and 7, after which the valve 5 may again be turned on to continue the irrigation.

Also, the drip pan 15 can be easily cleared if clogged by opening the valves, say 7 and 8 and 16, and allowing part of the water under pressure to force up through the rubber hose connection 18 to drive any clogging material into the pan 15.

It will be understood that the valve 10 is ordinarily closed and that the valve 16 is ordinarily closed when treating the patient, so that the material may feed down through the valve 5 and into the Y and then through the nozzle to the patient. However, by forming the bypass, as shown, rather than feeding the solution through the above-outlined connections, it may pass down through the drain 9 and thus entrain the air and cause a suction in the nozzle to thus relieve the pressure in the colon.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that by providing an irrigator, as shown, it is but a simple matter to remove say the tube 14 and nozzle 14 and the Y 13, so that these parts may be quickly sterilized before treating another patient and thus prevent any infection being transmitted from one patient to another or, on the other hand, if desired, simply hot water from the hot Water line may be run through these parts to cleanse the same without even disconnecting the parts above-mentioned.

If desired, a glass tube or glass nozzle might be used, so that the movement of the water into the patient or from the patient in relieving the gas pressure, as above set out, can be watched and observed by the operator.

Finally, by proper manipulation of the valves the whole piping system and jars of the irrigator may be flushed or washed out without in any way disrupting the apparatus, and by providing the two jars, there is always enough solution for the irrigation, but in case of a possible failure in one of the jars the other is ready for immediate use.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Leters Patent is:

1. An irrigator comprising a chamber for uid, a hot and cold water supply, means for controlling the same, an outlet pipe from said chamber, a valve for closing said pipe, a main feed pipe connected with the outlet pipe and with the water supply, a valve in the main feed pipe, a valve-controlled drain pipe connected with said outlet pipe, a Y-connection secured to the main feed pipe, a pipe provided with a single passageway nozzle and said pipe aIso connected to the Y, a pipe connecting the remaining branch of the Y to said drain pipe, and a normally closed valve in said last-mentioned pipe whereby said lastmentioned valve may be opened in conjunction with the drain pipe and water supply valves, while the valve in the main feed pipe is closed, to induce a back flow through the nozzle.

2. An irrigator comprising a mixing chamber, a nozzle, a pipe system including a cross, a hot water supply pipe connected to one branch of the cross, a cold water supply pipe connected to another branch, a pipe connecting a third branch to the bottom of said mixing chamber, a main feed pipe connecting the fourth arm to said nozzle, an individual valve for each of said pipes, and a drain having one valve-controlled inlet connected to one of said pipes adjacent the cross and another valve-controlled inlet connected to the main feed pipe between the nozzle and the valve controlling said feed pipe to create a suction through said nozzle when desired.

GAIL E. MILLER. 

